Last



Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAST Application filed February 4, 1926.

My invention relates to an improved shoe last and has for its object to provide an orthopedic last for shoe manufacturing providing substantially flat heel-receiving and sole-receiving surfaces in the finished shoe, to the end that the wearers foot, under the pressure of the weight of his body when standing or walking, shall rest flatly and naturally as when standing or walking in bare feet upon a plane surface, free from the distortion of bone, flesh, muscles and ligaments occasioned by cupped or concaved heel or sole receiving surfaces in the shoe.

Draw-nga In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a last embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view y ofthe same taken on the line JC-4 of Fig. 2. 2D Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Description The last A illustrated is of common or ordinary construction in all respects except as to the heel area 6 and sole area 7, which are each to present a fiat plane surface as shown, those flat plane surfaces being in substantially parallel planes.

The heel area 6 extends to a point beyond the breast of the shoe-heel, and well into the shank area. so as to permit the free and natural play of the bow-string ligament or plan- 4G tar muscles, which is prevented from functioning naturally by the customary humping of the shank just in advance of the breast of the heel, occasionedby the usual cupping of the last at that point.

The Hat heel area of my last eliminates the customary cupping of the shoe beneath the heel bone, and the resulting distortion of the.

ieshy portion of the Wearers heel.

By the word flat as used in this specificat-ion is meant a plane surface fiat both longi- Serial No. 85,858.

tudinally and transversely in respect to the longitudinal axis of the last.

I claim- 1. A shoe last having asubstantially flat heel area extending to and including the bottom of the rear portion of the shank, and a substantially flat sole area; said areas being joined by a shank having sides contoured to correspond to the inner and outer sides of the shank of the foot.

y 2. A shoe last having a substantially lat sole area, and a substantially flat heel area in a plane above that of the sole area.

3. A shoe last having a substantially flat sole area, and a substantially flat heel area in a plane above that of the sole area, the plane of said sole and heel area being substantially parallel with each other.

4. A shoe last having a substantially flatsole area; a shank portion conveXed and curved inward and upward to conform to the inner arch of the human foot; said shank portion terminating at a point immediately forward of the heel portion of the last; said heel portion having a substantially flat heel area in a plane parallel to that of the sole area.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature.

ALEXANDER E. BLOCK. 

